to $2,594,740. The commercial relations of Haiti with the United States began to decline as soon as the latter country placed a duty on coffee.[1] Were this staple more consumed, but more chiefly were it not that the continual misrepresentations of Haiti have had the effect of keeping the people of the United States aloof from this country, the commerce between the two nations would surely once more become very flourishing. However, as compared with that carried on with other countries, this commercial intercourse is steadily increasing and the exports from the United States to Haiti are higher than those from any other country.
The participation of Haiti at the St. Louis Exposition, although modest and very limited, has given to all impartial persons who viewed her products an opportunity to appreciate the efforts and the work of the people. These products were spoken of as follows:[2] "There can be seen in the Haitian pavilion a fine collection of liquors and syrups, such as anisette, maraschino, creme-de-menthe, orgeat, grenadine, creme-de-cacao; there are also bay-rum and rum of the finest quality; cigars; the mappou-cotton, which being cooler than silk-cotton or the ordinary cotton, may be used for making mattresses and pillows; cocoa, coffee, peanuts, sugar, honey, shoes, skins, and leather. The work of the pupils of the 'Orphelinat de la Madeleine' (Port-au-Prince) was in no way inferior to similar products on exhibition at St. Louis. The section of the 'Orphelinat' consisted of skirts made of embroidery, and Luxeuil lace, babes' caps, handkerchiefs, ties, dresses, cushions, all made of lace; embroidered petticoats and babies' shoes, embroidered pillow-cases and sheets, etc. Next to these products there were
- ↑ In 1881 the export of coffee from Haiti to the United States amounted to 31,000,000 lbs., falling as low as 7,540 lbs. after a tax had been placed on coffee; since the removal of this tax the export of coffee to the United States began to increase again; in 1904 it amounted to 4,000,000 pounds. (Department of Commerce and Labor, Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finances of the United States, July, 1905, p. 93.)
- ↑ A Brief Sketch of Haiti, p. 14.
